Thoughts on Security

[gillmore]

I may need to start parking my CJ on the street and am wondering about security. I'm curious about your thoughts on various anti-theft devices.

+hood lock
+The Club
+battery disconnects/kill switches
+removable steering wheels (Grant)
+alarms

I've got locking wheel nuts. My Jeep has a full soft top and a locking center console (that would be fairly easy to bust into) so I wouldn't leave any valuables in it. I have an old AM/FM/CB radio that I doubt would be tempting for someone to take. The winch has tack welds on the mounting nuts.

 

[BrockGrimes]

See the relay link in the useful info I thought I'd share thread good security stuff in there if I remember right.
Here ya go:
http://www.dlcparts.com/images/BoschGuide.pdf

 

[mylittlecj5]

Just leave the doors and windows unlocked, and NEVER leave anything valuable in the rig at any time.
Its easier to replace the small stuff than a soft top window...

Chain the hood down with a padlock.

 

[BajaEdition]

to protect your top, and yes they will slash it before they even check, never lock the doors. Also make sure they can tell it is not secure.

To protect anything inside, leave nothing inside. Not even those fuzzy dice.

to protect it from being stolen, , alarm it, do a battery disconnect, do a kill switch, use a club and a steering wheel disconnect. Remove the coil wire and take off the tires.
Seriously, about theft of the vehicle, I use a battery disconnect and pray, When away from the house I pull the coil wire. No one listens to an alarm anymore, we have made alarms going off for no reason way to common of a background noise. and if they really want it it will go missing, making it so it will not start is the only way to delay it from leaving, and even that will not prevent theft totally. Only making it immobile will keep it from leaving.

 

[BrockGrimes]

My old jeep had a starter solenoid mounted on a fiberglass fender.
I had a ground wire that allowed it to start.
I just used a disconnect, even buddies couldn't figure it out, LOL.

 

[dalefan88]

put a pitbull in it. lol

 

[gillmore]

Darn it, I only have a Bassett Hound. "Wilma" isn't fierce but her smell will scare thieves off.

 

[CJKrawler]

I had a ragtop TJ when I lived in VA Beach, in a couple of not the greatest neighborhoods. It was always parked in a parking lot at the apartments I lived in, which were not patrolled, or watched. The only thing I ever had stolen was a couple packs of cigarettes, and my radio. All of it was my fault, I left them in there unattended. 1st thing--NEVER lock your doors. 2nd--NEVER leave anything you want to keep inside unattended. As long as your Jeep is not show quality, there is probably a low likelihood that it will be stolen. It's hard leaving it out like that, but you should be safe.

 

[BajaEdition]

second post on the subject
I cant stress enough about not locking the doors
but here in SoCal jeeps go missing and end up south of the border
the thing that stops thieves the most is time, and having to open a hood to start a jeep is time.
I have a keyed battery disconnect under the passenger side of the jeep, a long reach from the drivers side so it is easier to have the key in it before getting in the drivers seat. and when I am away from home, the coil wire in my pocket.
CJs are just to easy to hot wire, a kill switch is usually found real quick by thieves. So a battery disconnect such as this, Battery Disconnect Switch
really works. trust me you almost have to have that key for it to work, I put it on the ground wire, nothing in the jeep will work without it on, I drill a hole in the firewall, screw it on with the key inside, hook up the outside, If they open the hood they are not looking for it.
time

 

[CJKrawler]

I see where you are coming from on that. I have not had to deal with people who would want to steal a Jeep CJ. Around here they are not that desireable. Another good anti-theft device around here is getting a diesel badge, no one will go near it.

 

[Shazam]

Great thread! Can someone elaborate on the battery disconnect installation? Does it simply go in-line with the negative battery cable? Thanks!

 

[BajaEdition]

Yes, In line, in other words take the line from the battery to it, and a new line from it to the place the old line went.
and now make sure all grounds go to the new line, nothing to the old line or battery.

 

[Dbryscho]

I agree with the rest of the posts, I too installed a kill switch. I don't have full doors so I don't have to worry about slashing the windows. But I agree it would almost be better to put a sign on the window that says the doors are unlocked. Best of luck, don't let it keep you up at night.

 

[BrockGrimes]

Most CJ's don't get stolen due to PO wiring, LOL.

Seriously if you rubbermount your starter solenoid and run a ground cable with a fuse.
You yank the fuse the ground cable is disconnected, the thing wont start.
You could also route the ground cable in such a way as to make it look like it's part
of the normal harness, and the fuse or switch could be hidden.
It's easy and will confuse the hell out of alot of people.

My buddy also swapped his hood latches for those locking TJ type.

 

[cerrajero]

maybe a little redneckish but mines simple......

 

[cerrajero]

but the kill switch is a great idea but the atlanta metro area is saturated with kill switches with key.....i think ive picked open maybe 200 to 300 in the last 15 years.....so im looking for something different

 

[Shazam]

OK...I installed a quick disconnect thanks to the ideas here. Pretty cool. That plus taking the coil will do me for now.

I found the in-line "lock out" but have nowhere good/easy to place it now...but I'm thinking. Thanks guys.

 

[dave123]

I added a hood lock, battery disconnect, a chain that goes around the axel and the pillar that holds my car port up (really).

But the best thing I do, is I always block it in with my daily driver when possible. If they want the Jeep, they will have to move my truck that is locked, has an alarm, and steering wheel lock.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

longhorn had a great idea put a padlock around the clutch and brake pedals effectively locking them together.

 

[derf]

I would advise against a "club". They were all the rage for a while but all it takes is a hacksaw on the steering wheel and you can get the club out. Takes less than a minute.

My plans call for 3 kill methods. One will be strictly electrical, the second will involve a kill switch on the fuel pump, the third will be a mechanical way to cut off the fuel supply to the pump.

If someone really wants my Jeep, they'll get it. But three kills will deter all but the determined thief.